Maryland Heads to Rutgers Riding Momentum After Statement Win Over No. 25 Iowa
After a gritty, statement-making win over No. 25 Iowa, Maryland is starting to show signs of life in a tough Big Ten season.
The Terps (10-14, 3-10 Big Ten) are heating up at just the right time, riding a two-game win streak into Sunday’s noon showdown at Rutgers (9-15, 2-11 Big Ten). The matchup tips off at 12 PM ET on FS1.
Maryland’s latest victory - a 77-70 triumph over a ranked Iowa squad - wasn’t just another tally in the win column. It was a confidence-builder, a performance that showcased balance, toughness, and a team beginning to find its rhythm.
Five Terps scored in double figures, and they outworked Iowa on the glass, 34-25. This wasn’t a fluke - it was a full-team effort that started with sophomore Andre Mills leading the charge.
Andre Mills: Heating Up at the Right Time
Mills is playing with the kind of confidence that can shift a season. He dropped a career-high 24 points against Iowa, including 14 in the first half to help Maryland take a 37-32 lead into the break.
That early cushion proved crucial - the Terps are now 7-1 this season when leading at halftime. Mills has scored in double figures in five of his last six games, and he’s quickly becoming one of the team’s most reliable offensive weapons.
Maryland also found its stroke from deep, knocking down eight three-pointers in the win. That brought their season total to 202 - good for 16th-most in a single season in program history. For a team that’s struggled with consistency, especially on the offensive end, that kind of shooting performance is a welcome sight.
Balanced Attack and Board Work
What stood out most in the Iowa win was Maryland’s balance. Elijah Saunders added 12 points, Darius Adams chipped in 11, and Solomon Washington and Collin Metcalf each contributed in key ways.
Washington and Saunders, in particular, were active on the boards, each grabbing eight rebounds. That kind of collective effort is exactly what head coach Buzz Williams has been preaching since taking over the program.
Diggy Coit: Putting Up Video Game Numbers
While Maryland’s win streak is the headline, Diggy Coit continues to be the story within the story. The senior guard has been electric all season, and his scoring feats are starting to enter historic territory. Coit has notched 40-plus points twice this season - a rare feat in college basketball, let alone the Big Ten.
His 43-point explosion against Penn State set an XFINITY Center record and came within a single point of tying the program’s all-time single-game scoring mark (Ernie Graham’s 44 in 1978). Coit also dropped 41 earlier this season against Mount St. Mary’s, making him just the second player in Maryland history to record multiple 40-point games in a season, joining the legendary Gene Shue (1952-53).
Coit’s performance against Penn State also tied the program and arena record for most three-pointers in a game. He hit 15 from beyond the arc, matching Mike Jones’ mark from 2006. His 15 attempts also tied a Maryland single-game record, equaling Greivis Vasquez - who was in the building to witness it.
Across the country, only two other active NCAA players - Treysen Eaglestaff (North Dakota) and Dior Johnson (Tarleton State) - have multiple 40-point games this season. Coit stands alone in the Big Ten in that category and is the first player in the conference to do it since Purdue’s Carsen Edwards in 2018-19.
Solomon Washington: Steadying Force in the Frontcourt
Solomon Washington’s return from injury has quietly been one of the most important developments for Maryland this season. Since making his debut on December 2, the senior forward has brought veteran leadership, rebounding, and consistent interior play to a lineup that desperately needed it.
In 15 games, Washington is averaging 10.1 points and 8.7 rebounds. He’s already recorded multiple double-doubles, including a 13-point, 13-rebound effort against Old Dominion and a 17-point, 12-rebound performance against Oregon.
He also put up 13 and 10 against No. 11 Illinois - showing he can produce against top-tier competition.
Washington is chasing a rare milestone: averaging a double-double over a full season. If he pulls it off, it would mark just the 23rd time in Maryland history that a player has done so, dating back to 1954-55.
Buzz Williams Building Something in College Park
Buzz Williams took over the Maryland program in April 2025 with a reputation for turning programs around - and he’s already starting to make his mark. Known for his intense, detail-oriented coaching style, Williams is on the cusp of joining elite company. He’s aiming to become just the third coach in NCAA Division I history to rack up 100 wins at four different schools, a list that includes Maryland legend Lefty Driesell and Steve Alford.
Williams already has 12 NCAA Tournament wins under his belt - among the top 25 active coaches - and he’s guided three different programs to March Madness success. He earned his 100th win at Texas A&M last season in a narrow victory over Creighton, joining Tennessee’s Rick Barnes as the only coaches to notch 100+ wins at three Power Conference schools.
His track record speaks for itself, and while this season hasn’t been easy, the signs of progress are there. Maryland is starting to play with more cohesion, more energy, and more belief.
Looking Ahead
The Terps now head to Rutgers with a chance to keep the momentum going. It’s been a tough Big Ten slate, but with Mills heating up, Coit rewriting the record books, and Washington anchoring the frontcourt, Maryland is starting to look like a team that’s finding its identity.
Tip-off is set for noon on Sunday, and with Buzz Williams at the helm, don’t be surprised if this group keeps trending upward as the regular season winds down.